My Top Six Picks for White Paint

It's no surprise when you look at my work that I love to use crisp neutrals in my designs.  Today, I'm rounding up my favorite whites that give a warm, bright look without looking sterile.

1- Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee - I love using this white for spaces that pull in a lot of cooler furnishings, like blues and chrome.  It helps balance the space by adding a subtle warmth without bringing in too much color.

           Swiss Coffee

2- Farrow and Ball Wimborne White - Oh my gosh, if you can afford to splurge on Farrow and Ball paint, PLEASE treat yourself.  F&B incorporates more pigments into their paint than their competitors, so throughout the day as the light changes, more colors are pulled out from it.  Wimborne White will adapt throughout the day in your space to give you perfect shade of white at that time.

                                            Wimborne White

3- Benjamin Moore White Wisp - Another one of my of my go-to picks, White Wisp will give you a clean aesthetic without being too white.  This one pulls in a touch of grey and a ton of warmth. Use it with a bright, white trim (see #4) to add some depth to a room.

            White Wisp

4- Benjamin Moore Decorator's White - Honestly, this is a cult favorite among designers and for good reason.  Decorator's White is one of the most pure, clean whites and works well with almost anything.  For this reason, this is my go to for trim.

         Decorators White

5- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace - Similar to choosing a warmer white when I pull in cooler furnishings, Chantilly Lace is a great choice when furnishings in a space are on the warmer side.  If you have a lot of wood tones, brass or bronze, consider balancing things out with a cooler white like this one.

          Chantilly Lace

6- Sherwin Williams Extra White - I know I've been giving a lot of love to the BM colors, but I do love Sherwin Williams too!  For a clean, crisp option, SW Extra White is a safe choice.  Choose this color if you're contrasting with a lot of neutral grays and blacks.  

            Extra White

Ready to paint?  Keep these things in mind when you do:

• Off-gassing from paint can lead to a number of health issues due to those pesky VOCs.  Don't know what VOCs are?  Click here to learn more.  I always specify zero-VOC paints for my projects.  My favorite is Natura, by Benjamin Moore. 
• In older buildings, walls tend to bow or crack over time.  I recommend using a flat paint (if it's not a high-traffic area) to mitigate highlighting these glaring issues.  That being said, flat paint is almost impossible to clean (it turns glossy when rubbed because the pigments break off) so always use at least an eggshell finish in areas with high-traffic (think hallways, kitchens and entryways)
• Trim is going to get the most abuse, so go with a satin finish or glossy if you're feeling bold.  This will allow you to clean without care when your kids wipe their hands all over the door frames.

Hope this is helpful!  What are some of your favorite whites that I missed?